WEST HAM PULL PLUG ON ARNIE’S MEGA DEAL
MARKO Arnautovic has been dropped from West Ham’s squad for today’s Premier League game against Bournemouth due to concerns over his frame of mind.
The Austria striker, 29, has fallen out with the club over his desire to make a lucrative move to China this month.
It is understood Arnautovic was involved in a disagreement with bosses after training on Thursday, when he was told he would not be sold in the January transfer window.
West Ham are understood to have pulled the plug on the deal because of concerns over how the Chinese proposed to pay for the deal.
Joint top scorer Arnautovic trained yesterday but will not be included in today’s team. Manager Manuel Pellegrini had planned to name him on the bench but his team-mates left for Bournemouth on the team bus without him last night.
Arnautovic wants to join Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande, who are prepared to offer West Ham £45million and the player around £300,000 a week. That would almost treble his wages.
The Hammers had wanted an offer at least £45m, partly because 20 per cent of the profit they make on Arnautovic will go to his former club Stoke City. They paid £20m for Arnautovic in July 2017.
But as well as concerns over how the fee would be paid, Pellegrini is adamant he needs a suitable replacement. Arnautovic’s unhappiness at being told he would not be sold raises fears of a repeat of the 2017 saga involving Dimitri Payet.
France midfielder Payet, another fan favourite, went on strike to force his move to Marseille and was successful in securing a January transfer worth £25m.
Pellegrini insisted yesterday that the decision to sell Arnautovic would be down to him. ‘One hundred per cent,’ theChilean said. ‘If I say the player must stay, the player will stay.’
Despite insisting he does not want to lose Arnautovic, whose brother and agent Danijel has been working to secure the move, potential replacements have been discussed.
Callum Wilson, of today’s opponents, is among the options though Bournemouth have put a £75m price tag on their striker following interest from Chelsea.
Pellegrini will not be happy that his preparations for the trip to the south coast have been disrupted, with West Ham aiming to finish inside the Premier League’s top seven this season.
Arnautovic helped the Hammers to a 1-0 win against Arsenal last Saturday and appeared to wave goodbye to fans at the London Stadium when he was substituted. At full time, he walked straight down the tunnel. The club yesterday remained adamant that he was not for sale.
Youngster Grady Diangana has signed a six-year contract at the club. The 20year-old winger joined the Hammers at the age of 10 and has made 15 first-team appearances since his debut in September.